Firefighters reveal what sparked late-night Costa retail park blaze

Hayley Parker

12 November 2024 at 3:52 pm·1-min read

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)

Firefighters have revealed that a blaze at a retail park was started accidentally. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire engines and an aerial ladder platform to Phoenix Retail Park, in Longton, in the early hours of Sunday.

Pictures from the scene showed flames lighting up the night sky. Firefighters had advised the public to 'avoid the area' but no-one was hurt.

Now it has been confirmed that the fire started in the air conditioning unit. A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We have extinguished a fire that started in an air conditioning unit behind a Costa coffee in Stoke-on-Trent.

"Crews were sent to Phoenix Retail Park in Longton at about 11.50pm on Sunday following reports of a fire at the back of the building.

"Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish an air conditioning unit behind the store by 12.15am on Monday. No-one was injured. Following an inspection, the cause of the fire was deemed to be accidental."

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